Everything you need for the National Lok Adalat in Delhi on Sunday, 25 October 2026: which traffic challans can be settled, how to download the challan slip from 19 October, what to carry, the seven court complexes, and how to settle cheque bounce, accident claim, bank and family matters the same day.
Mara Vakil editorial team · Updated 16 October 2026
The next National Lok Adalat in Delhi is on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at the Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Patiala House, Rohini, Saket, Dwarka and Rouse Avenue court complexes. Compoundable traffic challans that were pending on the Virtual Court portal as of 30 June 2026 can be settled. Challan slips can be downloaded from traffic.delhipolice.gov.in/lokadalat from 10 am on 19 October 2026, with 50,000 challans released a day up to 2 lakh in all. You cannot settle a challan there without the slip. Cheque bounce, motor accident, bank recovery, utility bill and family disputes (other than divorce) can also be settled if listed in advance. The DSLSA helpline is 1516.
| Date | Sunday, 25 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Timing | Benches usually sit from 10 am to 4 pm |
| Organised by | Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA), under the National Legal Services Authority, with the Delhi Traffic Police for challans |
| District court complexes | Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Patiala House, Rohini, Saket, Dwarka and Rouse Avenue |
| Other forums | Delhi High Court, Debt Recovery Tribunals, Permanent Lok Adalats, the State Consumer Commission and the District Consumer Commissions |
| Traffic challans covered | Compoundable challans pending on the Virtual Court portal as of 30 June 2026 |
| Slip download | From 10 am on Monday, 19 October 2026, at traffic.delhipolice.gov.in/lokadalat |
| Release limit | 50,000 challans a day, up to 2 lakh in total; slips stop once the limit is reached |
| Cases not taken | Divorce, non-compoundable offences, and serious traffic offences such as drunk driving |
| Pre-litigation matters | Apply to the DSLSA or the district legal services authority at least seven days before the date |
| Helpline and email | DSLSA 1516 (24 hours); lokadalatwing-dslsa@nic.in; Delhi Traffic Police helpline 1095 or 011-25844444 |
| Official notice | DSLSA notice No. 10/DSLSA/ADRW/NLAs/2026/11105 dated 9 September 2026 |
This Lok Adalat was first planned for Saturday, 12 September 2026, as part of the national calendar. When the Delhi High Court declared that Saturday a working day for the subordinate courts, the event moved to 10 October. A second notification of the High Court, dated 8 September 2026, then made 10 October a court sitting day as well, and the Patron-in-Chief of the DSLSA shifted the Lok Adalat to Sunday, 25 October 2026. The DSLSA's notice of 9 September and the Delhi Traffic Police advisory of 10 September both confirm the new date.
If you had earlier been told 12 September or 10 October, the change does not affect your eligibility. What matters is the challan's status on the Virtual Court portal as of 30 June 2026 and whether you download a slip from 19 October.
A Lok Adalat is a forum where disputes are settled by agreement instead of by a contested trial. It is set up under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. A bench, usually a serving or retired judicial officer with a lawyer or social worker, helps the parties reach a compromise. When they agree, the bench records the terms as an award.
For traffic challans the process is simpler still. The challan has already been sent to the Virtual Court; at the Lok Adalat a judicial officer looks at it and fixes the amount you pay to close it. Many people find the amount lower than the original fine, but the bench decides each case and there is no fixed discount.
National Lok Adalats are held on the same day across the country several times a year under NALSA's calendar. Delhi held one on 22 March 2026, when challans pending up to 30 November 2025 were taken up. The 25 October sitting is the next.
The DSLSA notice limits the traffic part of this Lok Adalat to compoundable challans that were pending on the Virtual Court portal as of 30 June 2026. Two conditions are packed into that line.
When you get a Delhi challan, by camera or from an officer on the road, you first have a window to pay it to the traffic police online. If it is not paid, the challan is sent to the Virtual Court, an online court run by a judicial officer for traffic matters, which Delhi began using in July 2019. Only challans that had moved to the Virtual Court by 30 June 2026 and were still unpaid then are part of this Lok Adalat. A challan issued in August 2026, or one you can still pay to the police directly, is not on the list.
A compoundable offence is one that the law allows to be closed by paying an amount, without a trial. Most everyday traffic violations fall in this group. Typical examples:
| Usually eligible | Why people get it |
|---|---|
| Over-speeding caught on camera | Speed cameras on expressways and arterial roads |
| Red light jumping | Signal cameras at junctions |
| Riding without a helmet, or a pillion without a helmet | Officer or camera challan |
| Driving without a seat belt | Camera or officer challan |
| Wrong or obstructive parking | Towing zones, no-parking roads, markets |
| Expired pollution under control certificate | Checks at petrol pumps and on roads |
| Stop line violation, wrong lane, wrong-side driving where not dangerous | Junction cameras |
| Using a mobile phone while driving, where treated as compoundable | Officer challan |
| Missing or improper number plate | Officer challan |
| Not carrying documents | Officer challan |
The final call on any individual challan is made by the bench and by the portal's own filter. If a challan does not appear when you search on 19 October, it is either not eligible or not in the pool released that day.
Write down each challan number, date and offence. On the day, these are your reference.
If you hold one of these, the Lok Adalat route is closed for now. For a court prosecution, speak to a criminal lawyer in Delhi about the next date and whether the offence can be compounded under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Entry to a traffic bench is by slip only. The slip lists the challans you will settle, the court complex, the court number and a time. Without it you will be turned away at the gate, however long you have queued.
The whole thing typically takes a few minutes at the bench, though waiting can take hours. You do not need a lawyer for a traffic challan at the Lok Adalat.
If you booked a slip but cannot attend, the challan simply stays pending; there is no extra penalty for missing your Lok Adalat slot. You can pay it online through the Virtual Court, attend a later Lok Adalat if it is still eligible, or send someone with an authorisation letter on the day.
You choose a complex when downloading the slip. Pick the one easiest for you to reach on a Sunday; the nearest Metro stations are given as a rough guide.
| Court complex | Area | Nearest Metro (approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Tis Hazari Courts | Near Kashmere Gate, North and Central Delhi | Tis Hazari (Red Line) |
| Karkardooma Courts | East Delhi, serving East, North East and Shahdara | Karkardooma (Blue and Pink Lines) |
| Patiala House Courts | Near India Gate, New Delhi | Supreme Court (Pragati Maidan) or Khan Market |
| Rohini Courts | Sector 14, Rohini, North West Delhi | Rohini West or Rithala (Red Line) |
| Saket Courts | Pushp Vihar, South Delhi | Saket or Malviya Nagar (Yellow Line) |
| Dwarka Courts | Sector 10, Dwarka, South West Delhi | Dwarka Sector 10 (Blue Line) |
| Rouse Avenue Courts | Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, Central Delhi | ITO or Delhi Gate (Violet Line) |
The DSLSA's central office is on the third floor of the Rouse Avenue court complex. Each district legal services authority also has a front office in its own complex, where you can ask about listing other cases.
Cases pending in the Delhi High Court, the Debt Recovery Tribunals, the Permanent Lok Adalats and the consumer commissions are taken up at those forums on the same day, according to the DSLSA notice. Some reports suggest separate benches at those forums on 19 October; check with the forum where your case is pending.
Traffic challans make the headlines, but most people who benefit from a Lok Adalat are parties to court cases that have dragged on. The DSLSA notice covers all types of civil and compoundable criminal cases except divorce.
| Type of case | Typical settlement | Who should act |
|---|---|---|
| Cheque bounce under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act | Payment of an agreed amount, often in instalments, and compounding of the offence | Complainant or accused, through their advocate |
| Motor accident claims | Compensation agreed with the insurance company | Claimant's advocate and the insurer |
| Bank and NBFC recovery | One-time settlement or a revised repayment plan | Borrower and lender; DRT cases at the DRT |
| Electricity and water bills | Revised bill or instalments with the discom or the Delhi Jal Board | Consumer; often pre-litigation |
| Maintenance, domestic violence and other family disputes (not divorce) | Agreed maintenance, residence or custody arrangements | Parties and their advocates |
| Recovery suits, rent and money claims | Payment schedule | Plaintiff and defendant |
| Consumer complaints | Refund, replacement or compensation | Complainant and the company |
| Labour and service matters | Dues, reinstatement or settlement amount | Worker and employer |
| Compoundable criminal cases, such as simple hurt or criminal intimidation | Compromise recorded and the case closed | Complainant and accused |
| Land acquisition compensation | Agreed compensation | Landowner and the acquiring authority |
Apply to the court where the case is pending, through your advocate or in person, asking that it be referred to the Lok Adalat on 25 October. The court may also refer it on its own if it thinks a settlement is possible. Do this as early as you can; courts prepare their Lok Adalat lists in advance.
A dispute that has not reached court, such as an unpaid bill or a cheque that bounced last month, can be taken up as a pre-litigation matter. Apply to the DSLSA or the district legal services authority at least seven days before the Lok Adalat, giving the other side's details. The authority sends them a notice to attend. If you settle, the award is final and you avoid a court case altogether.
Cheque bounce complaints under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act are among the largest groups of pending cases in Delhi's magistrate courts, and they are well suited to settlement. The offence is compoundable under section 147 of the Act, so once the complainant is paid and agrees, the case can be closed.
Most parties in pending cheque cases come with their advocates. If you do not have one and want help negotiating or drafting terms, describe your case on Mara Vakil; enrolment-checked advocates in Delhi who handle cheque bounce matters can respond. See also cheque bounce notice if your cheque has just bounced and no case is filed yet.
Claims before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunals in Delhi are routinely listed at Lok Adalats, because insurance companies send officers authorised to settle. For a family that has lost an earning member, a settlement can bring compensation years earlier than a contested award.
Divorce petitions are excluded from this Lok Adalat, but related disputes are not: maintenance claims, domestic violence cases, and disputes over residence, custody and visitation can be settled if both sides agree. A settlement reached here can also pave the way for a mutual consent divorce later in the family court. Read the terms carefully, especially any lump sum and what it covers, and take advice from a family lawyer in Delhi before signing.
Banks and NBFCs send representatives with authority to offer settlements on loans, credit cards and recovery suits. If you have received a notice, bring the loan account statement, your income documents and a proposal. Get any settlement in writing on the bank's letterhead or recorded in the award, and collect a no-dues certificate after payment so that your credit record is corrected.
Disputed bills of BSES, Tata Power-DDL, NDMC or the Delhi Jal Board, including theft and misuse assessments, can be settled as pre-litigation matters. Apply to the legal services authority at least seven days in advance, attaching the disputed bill.
| Settle if | Think twice if |
|---|---|
| The amount offered is close to what a court would realistically give | The offer is far below your likely entitlement, and you have strong evidence |
| You value time, certainty and lower cost | The other side has a history of defaulting on promises |
| The dispute is mainly about money | An important point of principle or law needs a court's decision |
| Both sides want to move on | You feel pressured, or do not understand the terms |
Remember there is no appeal from an award. If you are unsure on the day, you can say so; the case goes back to its regular court and you lose nothing.
Challans sent to the Virtual Court can be paid online at any time. Search by challan, vehicle or mobile number on the Virtual Courts portal, choose the Delhi traffic department, and you will see the amount the judicial officer has fixed. Pay online and save the receipt. This is often the quickest route if the Lok Adalat slots are gone.
The Virtual Court gives an option to contest instead of paying. If you contest, the challan is sent to the regular traffic court with jurisdiction, where you appear on a date given to you and present your side, for example that the vehicle was elsewhere, had been sold, or that the number plate was misread. Keep evidence: sale documents, location records, photographs. A lawyer in Delhi can help if the stakes are high, such as many challans on a vehicle you sold.
The Delhi Traffic Police website also offers appointments for evening courts that deal with challans, useful if you cannot take a day off. Book through the official site.
Recent challans that have not yet gone to the Virtual Court can be paid directly on the Delhi Traffic Police notice payment page or the national e-challan portal. Paying early avoids court involvement altogether.
NALSA usually schedules four National Lok Adalats a year, and Delhi has added special traffic Lok Adalats in some years. Each sitting fixes its own cut-off date for challans, so a challan too recent for October may qualify next time. Watch the DSLSA and Delhi Traffic Police websites for the announcement; slip windows typically open about a week before the date.
The Central Government has amended rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to create a time-bound digital process for challans. Delhi announced in May 2026 that it would adopt the system, and a Delhi notification was issued on 14 September 2026. Its main features, as reported:
The Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi objected, mainly to the 50 per cent pre-deposit and to moving the decision on contested challans from judicial magistrates to executive officers such as sub-divisional magistrates and tehsildars. On 23 September 2026 the Delhi Transport Minister announced that the notification was on hold until further consideration. As of mid-October 2026 the existing system, with the Virtual Court and Lok Adalats, continues. If the new rules come into force later, the timelines above will matter, so keep your mobile number and address updated on your registration certificate and licence.
Every Lok Adalat brings a wave of fraud. Common patterns:
If you lose money, call the cybercrime helpline 1930 at once and file a complaint on the national cybercrime reporting portal. Quick reporting gives the best chance of the bank freezing the transfer. See cyber lawyers in Delhi if you need further help.
No. The bench fixes an amount for each challan. It may be lower than the original fine, but there is no blanket waiver.
Not for traffic challans. Entry is by slip only, downloaded from the official site.
No. Missing your Lok Adalat slot leaves the challan pending as before. It still needs to be paid or contested in time.
No. An award made with your consent is final. Agree only to terms you accept.
Not at this sitting; divorce cases are excluded. Related disputes such as maintenance can be settled, and a mutual consent divorce then follows in the family court.
Not for traffic challans. For court cases such as cheque bounce or accident claims, your advocate normally attends with you, because the terms affect your rights.
Names are invented; the situations are typical.
Rohit, in Janakpuri, found eleven over-speeding and red light challans from 2025 and early 2026 on his car, all pending on the Virtual Court. On 19 October he logged in at 10 am, verified the OTP on his phone, and the portal let him pick seven challans. He chose the largest ones and the Dwarka complex for a morning slot. The rest he planned to pay online through the Virtual Court.
Meena's scooter was challaned for a missing helmet in August 2026. The challan did not appear on the Lok Adalat portal because it was issued after the 30 June cut-off. She paid it on the Delhi Traffic Police site instead, which took two minutes.
Arvind sold his car in 2024 but the buyer never transferred the registration, and challans kept arriving in his name. Rather than paying for someone else's violations, he contested them through the Virtual Court with the sale agreement and delivery receipt, and separately pursued the buyer for transfer. A lawyer helped him file a complaint with the transport authority.
A trader in Chandni Chowk had a complaint pending at Tis Hazari over a cheque of Rs 4 lakh. Both sides' advocates applied for the case to be listed on 25 October. They agreed on Rs 4.3 lakh in four monthly instalments, recorded in the award. Because the case had not reached defence evidence, no extra compounding cost applied.
A family in Rohini whose son was injured in a road accident had a claim pending before the tribunal. The insurer offered Rs 6 lakh at the Lok Adalat. Their advocate worked out that the likely award, with medical bills and loss of earnings, was closer to Rs 8.5 lakh, and negotiated Rs 7.8 lakh, accepting it to avoid two more years of hearings.
A small shop in Shahdara received a large assessment bill. The owner applied to the district legal services authority ten days before the Lok Adalat as a pre-litigation matter. At the sitting, the discom agreed to revise the bill and allow three instalments.
A couple in Mayur Vihar had been fighting a maintenance case at Karkardooma for two years, alongside a domestic violence complaint. Both advocates thought a settlement was possible and applied for the cases to be listed on 25 October. With the help of the bench, they agreed on monthly maintenance for the child, a lump sum for the wife, the return of her articles and visitation for the father on alternate weekends, all written into the award. The connected cases were to be withdrawn, and a mutual consent divorce petition was to follow in the family court. The advocates insisted that each term, including the dates of payment and what would happen on default, was spelt out before either party signed.
Delhi's district courts carry a heavy load of petty and money cases: traffic challans, cheque bounce complaints, recovery suits and accident claims. Lok Adalats relieve that load by closing large numbers of such cases in a single day. Traffic challans alone are released in batches of up to 2 lakh per sitting, and every settled court case frees a slot on a judge's board for contested matters.
| Type of Lok Adalat | When | What it handles |
|---|---|---|
| National Lok Adalat | Fixed days across India under the NALSA calendar, usually four times a year | Pending and pre-litigation cases of all settleable kinds, including traffic challans in Delhi |
| Special or state Lok Adalats | Called by the DSLSA as needed | Particular categories, such as traffic or motor accident claims |
| Permanent Lok Adalats | Function throughout the year | Disputes about public utility services; can decide on merits if settlement fails |
| Continuous Lok Adalats in court complexes | Regularly at the district legal services authority | Referred cases and pre-litigation matters |
For a broader view of free legal help in Delhi, including the front offices in each court complex, see free legal aid eligibility.
For traffic challans, the official portals and the DSLSA helpline 1516 are enough; you do not need to pay anyone. For pending court cases, such as cheque bounce, accident claims, recovery suits or family disputes, a settlement affects your rights permanently and is worth discussing with an advocate first. On Mara Vakil you can describe your matter free of charge and Delhi advocates whose enrolment has been checked can respond; any fee is settled directly with the advocate you choose. Useful pages: lawyers in Delhi, criminal lawyers in Delhi, family lawyers in Delhi, consumer lawyers in Delhi, how to file a consumer complaint and all legal calculators.
Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm, and is not connected with the DSLSA or the Delhi Traffic Police.
To judge whether settling at the Lok Adalat is worthwhile, it helps to know the fines set by the Motor Vehicles Act as amended in 2019. These are the compounding amounts commonly applied in Delhi for a first offence; repeat offences cost more, and the Virtual Court or Lok Adalat bench may fix a different amount for a pending challan.
| Violation | Section of the Act | Usual fine, first offence |
|---|---|---|
| Riding without a helmet | 194D | Rs 1,000, and the licence can be disqualified for three months |
| Not wearing a seat belt | 194B | Rs 1,000 |
| Over-speeding, light motor vehicle | 183 | Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 |
| Jumping a red light or dangerous driving | 184 | Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 |
| Driving without a valid licence | 181 | Rs 5,000 |
| Driving without insurance | 196 | Rs 2,000 |
| No valid pollution certificate | 190(2) | Up to Rs 10,000 |
| Wrong parking and general offences | 177 and related rules | Rs 500 upwards, plus towing charges where towed |
| Drunk driving (not for Lok Adalat) | 185 | Up to Rs 10,000 and imprisonment up to six months for a first offence |
| Offence by a juvenile (not for Lok Adalat) | 199A | Rs 25,000 on the guardian or owner, and other consequences |
Amounts are revised from time to time by notification, so treat the table as a guide only and rely on the amount shown on the portal or announced by the bench.
What matters is where the challan was issued. A car registered in Haryana or Uttar Pradesh that was challaned by the Delhi Traffic Police falls in the Delhi system, and its compoundable Virtual Court challans can be taken to this Lok Adalat. A challan issued by Gurugram or Noida police cannot.
Taxi operators, transporters and companies often have dozens of challans across vehicles. Slips are downloaded vehicle by vehicle, with an OTP to each registered number, so plan who will handle which vehicle and send an authorised representative with a letter on the company's letterhead and the signatory's ID copy.
A family member can attend with the death certificate, the registration certificate and proof of relationship. Transfer the registration to the legal heir afterwards so that future notices reach the right person.
Until the transfer is recorded, challans keep going to the registered owner. Settling at the Lok Adalat closes the challan but not the problem. Contest challans that relate to the period after sale, and press the buyer and the transport authority to complete the transfer.
If the bank or leasing company is shown as an owner, check whose mobile number is linked for OTPs. Lease agreements usually make the user responsible for fines.
These are general formats. For a court case, your advocate will usually prepare the application in the form the court prefers.
| Sitting | Challan cut-off | Slip window opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Lok Adalat, 22 March 2026 | Pending on the Virtual Court as of 30 November 2025 | 16 March 2026, 10 am | 50,000 a day, 2 lakh in all; held at the High Court, district courts, DRTs and consumer commissions |
| Planned for 12 September 2026 | Not held on this date | Not opened | Moved after 12 September was made a court working day |
| Rescheduled to 10 October 2026 | Not held on this date | Not opened | Moved after the High Court's notification of 8 September 2026 |
| National Lok Adalat, 25 October 2026 | Pending on the Virtual Court as of 30 June 2026 | 19 October 2026, 10 am | 50,000 a day, 2 lakh in all; seven district complexes and other forums |
The pattern is consistent: a cut-off date some months before the sitting, a slip window about six days before, and the same daily and total caps. Expect the next sitting to follow it.
For court cases, the award you sign ends the dispute for good. Before signing, make sure you can answer yes to each of these:
If any answer is no, ask for the wording to be corrected or ask for the case to go back to the court. A rushed settlement on a crowded day is the most common source of later regret.
Advocates practising in Delhi's district courts can use the Lok Adalat to close long-pending matters for their clients.
Advocates who want clients from across Delhi for such matters can join Mara Vakil with a free, enrolment-checked profile.
Either nothing eligible is pending, the challans are newer than 30 June 2026, they are for non-compoundable offences, or the day's batch did not include them. Check the Virtual Courts portal separately. If challans are pending there but do not appear on the Lok Adalat page on any day until the 2 lakh limit is reached, pay or contest them through the Virtual Court.
If the vehicle number or challan details on the slip look wrong, do not travel on a guess. Call the Delhi Traffic Police helpline 1095 before the date. At the complex, show the slip at the help desk before joining the queue.
The challan status on the official portals will show it as disposed once updated. Take a screenshot of that status as proof. If the status does not change after a couple of weeks, write to the traffic police with your slip and the payment details.
Updates can take some days. If it still shows pending after two to three weeks, contact the helpline with the slip, the receipt and the date and court number where you settled.
Court complexes usually have help desks and ramps, and volunteers from the legal services authorities are present on Lok Adalat days. If you need assistance, ask at the entrance. A family member can also attend on your behalf with an authorisation letter.
The Lok Adalat falls on a Sunday, when Metro services start a little later than on weekdays and parking near court complexes fills quickly. Use public transport where you can and allow extra time. Carry water and expect to wait.
Queues can be long and crowded. If possible, do not bring young children.
An unpaid challan can seem harmless, but it does not go away. Pending challans stay attached to your vehicle in the national database and can come up when you sell the vehicle, renew insurance, apply for a fitness certificate or seek a no-objection certificate to move the vehicle to another state. Under the amended central rules, if and when Delhi brings them into force, non-payment can also block registration and licence work. Five or more violations in a year can put your licence at risk. Clearing old challans at a Lok Adalat, at an amount fixed by a judicial officer, is one of the simplest ways to clean the record.
For court cases, the benefit is even clearer: years of hearings replaced by a final settlement, court fee refunded, and certainty for both sides.
The next National Lok Adalat in Delhi is on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at the seven district court complexes and at the Delhi High Court, DRTs, Permanent Lok Adalats and consumer commissions.
From 10 am on Monday, 19 October 2026, on the Delhi Traffic Police Lok Adalat page, traffic.delhipolice.gov.in/lokadalat.
Up to 50,000 challans a day, until a total of 2 lakh is reached, according to the DSLSA notice.
Compoundable challans that were pending on the Virtual Court portal as of 30 June 2026.
No. It is after the 30 June 2026 cut-off. Pay it online, contest it, or wait for a later Lok Adalat that covers it.
Not for traffic challans. Entry for challan settlement is allowed only with the slip downloaded from the official portal.
No. The slip is free on the Delhi Traffic Police site. Do not pay any website or agent for it.
Media reports for this sitting mention up to seven challans per vehicle. The portal shows the limit that applies when you download the slip.
Update the mobile number linked to the vehicle's registration through the transport department's online services before 19 October. Without the OTP you cannot download the slip.
Yes. You choose the complex and slot while downloading the slip. Pick the one you can reach easily.
Reach 30 to 60 minutes before the time on your slip. Benches generally sit from 10 am to 4 pm.
The slip, challan copies, the registration certificate, your driving licence, photo ID, any notice received, and an authorisation letter if attending for someone else.
Not necessarily. The bench fixes an amount for each challan. It may be lower than the original fine, but there is no automatic waiver.
At the counter or as directed, usually by UPI, card or cash. Keep the receipt.
The challan stays pending. There is no separate penalty for missing the slot, but you still need to pay or contest the challan.
Yes, with an authorisation letter signed by the registered owner and copies of the owner's ID and registration certificate.
No. Drunk driving, accidents with injury or death, dangerous driving and juvenile driving are dealt with by the regular courts.
No. Only challans issued in Delhi are covered. Challans from other states are settled in that state's system.
Yes, if the challan was issued by the Delhi Traffic Police and is a compoundable challan pending on the Virtual Court as of 30 June 2026.
By vehicle number on the Delhi Traffic Police notice page, the national e-challan portal, or the Virtual Courts portal for the Delhi traffic department.
An online court for traffic challans, used in Delhi since July 2019. Unpaid challans are sent to it, a judicial officer fixes the amount, and you can pay or contest online.
Choose the contest option on the Virtual Court portal. The matter is then sent to the regular traffic court, where you appear on the date given and present your evidence.
Civil and compoundable criminal cases, including cheque bounce, motor accident claims, bank recovery, utility bills, consumer disputes, labour matters and family disputes other than divorce.
No. Divorce cases are excluded. Related disputes such as maintenance or domestic violence cases can be settled.
Apply to the court where it is pending, as early as possible, asking for it to be referred to the Lok Adalat on 25 October 2026.
Yes, as a pre-litigation matter. Apply to the DSLSA or the district legal services authority at least seven days before the Lok Adalat.
Yes. It is treated as a decree of a civil court and no appeal lies against it.
Court fee paid on a pending case that is settled at a Lok Adalat can be refunded under the law. Ask the court about the refund procedure.
The case returns to the regular court and continues from where it was. The Lok Adalat cannot decide against your will.
Not for traffic challans. For court cases such as cheque bounce or accident claims, your advocate usually attends because the terms affect your rights.
Often, yes. The offence can be compounded, the case ends, and under the Supreme Court's 2025 guidelines there is no extra compounding cost before defence evidence is recorded.
Under Sanjabij Tari v. Kishore S. Borcar (2025): none before defence evidence; 5 per cent of the cheque amount after that and before the trial court's judgment; 7.5 per cent in a sessions court or High Court; 10 per cent in the Supreme Court.
Yes. Insurers send officers authorised to settle motor accident claims at Lok Adalats.
Yes. Disputes with discoms or the Delhi Jal Board can be taken up as pre-litigation matters if you apply at least seven days in advance.
1516, available 24 hours. The Lok Adalat wing's email is lokadalatwing-dslsa@nic.in.
1095 or 011-25844444.
Because the Delhi High Court declared the earlier dates, 12 September and then 10 October 2026, as court working days for the subordinate courts.
On 22 March 2026, when challans pending up to 30 November 2025 were taken up.
No. Delhi issued a notification on 14 September 2026, but it was put on hold on 23 September 2026 after objections from the district court bar associations.
Under the current system, unpaid challans stay pending in the Virtual Court and can be sent to the regular court. Under the amended central rules, if Delhi brings them into force, unpaid challans can block vehicle and licence services.
Be careful. Check the challan yourself on the official portals by vehicle number. Never install files or share OTPs from such messages.
Call 1930 immediately and file a complaint on the national cybercrime reporting portal, then inform your bank.
Yes, with an authorisation letter on the company's letterhead, but slips must be downloaded for each vehicle separately.
Settling closes the challan. Licence disqualification for certain offences, such as riding without a helmet, is a separate matter under the Act.
You can, but it is better to contest challans relating to the period after sale and get the registration transferred.
NALSA usually holds four National Lok Adalats a year. The next date will be announced by the DSLSA and the Delhi Traffic Police.
No. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm. It explains the process and helps you find an advocate if you need one for a court case.
This guide gives general information based on the official notice, advisories and reports listed on this page, as checked on 16 October 2026. Dates, limits and eligibility are set by the DSLSA and the Delhi Traffic Police and can change; confirm on their websites before you travel. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. Read our disclaimer.
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